Indie consultant for Mary Kay could pass for Sarah Palin’s sister

By Kay B. Day

Carole M. Sumner, Independent Beauty Consultant for Mary Kay cosmetics in Jacksonville, is very good natured when people tell her she looks like Gov. Sarah Palin. [Photo by Kay B. Day/all rights reserved/copyright 2010] For a second I thought I was actually looking at Governor Sarah Palin. I was covering the Duval County (Fla.) Republican Women’s candidate meet and greet.

I walked over to her and said, “Can I take your picture and I think you know why?”

She laughed as some of the people nearby said, “She looks just like Sarah Palin!”

But this individual is Carole M. Sumner, an independent beauty consultant for Mary Kay Cosmetics in Jacksonville. And she granted me permission to use her photo.

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Palin tour includes triple hit in Florida; media can’t get enough

Commentary by Kay B. Day

[Photo of Gov. Palin from Alaska Governor website.]Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) heads to Florida November 24 and organizers are preparing for what will likely be a warm welcome. Palin, new book and perseverance in hand, will visit supporters in Jacksonville, The Villages and Orlando. Palin’s press tour in conjunction with the release of ‘Going Rogue’ has garnered deep coverage from print, Web and traditional TV networks. From the moment Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) announced her as his running mate in the 2008 elections, Palin drew media like a ripe orange draws wasps. Obviously, she still does.

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RNC chair battle in full swing as candidates vie for top spot

The battle for a new chairman for the Republican National Committee is in full swing, but it’s a battle that has been largely overlooked by traditional media.

GOPAC chair and former RNC Committee member Michael Steele with Pat Parker, president of the Maryland Federation of Republican Women. [Photo from Steele for Chairman website.](Washington, D. C.)--GOPAC chairman Michael Steele spoke candidly on Monday about his goal to become chairman of the Republican National Committee. Explaining that his mother always told him if he wanted to do something he should “just get in there and do it,” he said he’s tired of hearing Republicans complaining. Steele summed up the GOP’s problems succinctly: lack of technology, lack of a message and lack of communications. “We’re running a 1980s playbook,” he added. Steele said he wants to see the party become more “21st century.” Steele's supporters are utilizing technology to get the word out.

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If Democrats don't like the word 'socialist,' they need to change their platform

Lewis Diuguid, Kansas City Star Editorial page columnist, says the McCain-Palin team is misusing the term ‘socialism’ in describing the Obama-Biden ticket. Not.

I’ve learned the hard way any time I ask a question about the Obama-Biden ticket, even if it’s a legitimate question, I’ll likely be called a racist. That’s really comical because my own family is truly black and white with a little Latino thrown in for fun. The McCain-Palin ticket, responding to Sen. Barack Obama’s promise to “spread the wealth,” pegged his idea socialistic. That would be accurate. Memo to Diuguid: we're talking about the economy, your candidate's favorite topic of late.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard Obama surrogates Bill Burton and Madeline Albright, not to mention the candidate himself, bring up the gap between rich and poor. That little phrase is repeated with the rhythm and cadence of the tree frogs that sing in my yard at night.

Just for fun, take a look at the Socialist Worker website. Here’s an excerpt from the column, ‘Marxism is more relevant than ever’: "The latest round of assertions came after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. 'Socialism is dead! Capitalism is triumphant!' It's time for the "peace dividend." This assertion came amid a growing gap between rich and poor the world over…"

That old gap between rich and poor says it all—it’s a staple in every Marxist or Socialist tract you will read. Maybe Obama-Biden could come up with a little ‘straight talk’? And maybe the Kansas City Star columnist could get a grip.

Former Luddite learns computerese—McCain will have no problems

How important is it for a president—for anyone, really—to be computer savvy? That question is floating around various media right now, and a columnist at PC Magazine wrote a very thoughtful essay about the subject. He wrote the column in response to Sen. John McCain’s remarks about not using the Internet—the senator says he has others get him what he needs online. Tech types are concerned about that, because of issues like Net neutrality, spyware and countless other issues. I’m not too worried, and here’s why.

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